Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Jun 4: India’s under-23 football team head coach Naushad Moosa has urged young footballers to focus on getting game time instead of chasing glamour by jumping too early into the Indian Super League (ISL). Moosa, who has returned to helm the U-23 squad with a one-year contract, is preparing the team for next year’s Asian Games and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to reporters, Moosa, a former India international and SAFF Championship winner, highlighted that many of the country’s promising youngsters are wasting crucial development years warming benches in ISL clubs. “At this age, they need to play. Signing for financially strong clubs and sitting out matches doesn’t help their growth,” he said.
The coach has named a 29-member probable squad for upcoming international friendlies against Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic, scheduled for June 18 and 21. The team is currently training in Kolkata and will depart for Dushanbe on June 16.
Moosa also voiced concern that very few players in the squad have regular ISL experience. Only one player, Vibin Mohanan, has made a senior national team appearance, while a few others — including Ayush Chhetri, Abhishek Singh, and Suhail Bhat — are training under national coach Manolo Marquez.
Among the more familiar names in the U-23 camp are Mohammed Sanan, Nikhil Barla (Jamshedpur FC), Korou Singh, Bikash Yumnam (Kerala Blasters), Macarton Louis Nickson, Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United), and Dipendu Biswas (Mohun Bagan). Notably, only two players — Rahul Raju (Gokulam Kerala) and Mohammad Arbaz (Real Kashmir) — come from I-League outfits.
Moosa has emphasised the need for longer training camps and more exposure games. “Even if we cannot play abroad, we should host stronger opponents here. Losing is not a problem, it’s about preparing for the real challenges. Our aim must go beyond winning SAFF — we must target the Asian level,” he added.
As part of AIFF’s vision to streamline the transition from junior to senior national teams, these friendlies are seen as crucial stepping stones for India’s next generation of footballers.